john boehner said the proposal doesn't go far enough. >> there's a stalemate. let's not kid ourselves. >> reporter: congressman eric cantor agrees. >> that offer is not a serious offer. they are asking for $1.6 trillion in tax hikes and nowhere near that number in spending reform. >> reporter: house minority leader nancy pelosi says any delay in a compromise is harmful to consumers and the market. >> the country cannot afford nor should we even think in terms of stalemate. >> reporter: pelosi is pushing gop leaders for a vote to extend middle class tax cuts. the senate has approved the extension but republicans object and instead want all of the bush era tax cuts to be extended including those covering people making over $250,000 a year. anthony? >> anna werner. thanks. for more on the consequences of the fiscal cliff we're joined by robert greenstein the founder and president of budget priorities which analyzes proposed budgets and tax policies with particular emphasis on low-income american. he's in our washington bureau. good morning. >> good morning. >> to